Year-around ski run



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United States Patent 3,250,530 YEAR-AROUND SKI RUN Lawrence M. Dean and Dorothy L. Dean, both of 1750 Markston Road, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,628 3 Claims. (Cl. 2723) Our present invention relates to winter sports, and more particularly to a recreational area with facilities for yeararound skiing and related winter sports.

An object of our invention is to provide a recreational complex, including motel and eating facilities, together with related amusements, in combination with a plurality of elongated ski run enclosing housings extending outwardly from a central point over adjacent inclined terrain having artificial snow producing means to form ski runs therein and air conditioning means, whereby any desired temperature may be maintained within said enclosure for skiing and like sports throughout all seasons of the year.

A further object of the invention is to provide a recreational area having enclosed ski runs extending outwardly at an inclined angle in which the lengths and inclines of said several ski runs conform with the underlying terrain for use by advanced skiers and beginners and also an area for special instructions.

Other objects and advantages will be in part evident to those skilled in the art and in part pointed out hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment of the invention:

In the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of a mountainous area upon which a complex constructed in accordance with my invention has been installed,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view of a ski run enclosure as shown in FIGURE 1, for professional skiers,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of a modified enclosure suitable for beginners and moderately skilled skiers,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side view showing a portion of a ski run as contemplated by my invention, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of the ski run enclosing housing.

The sport of skiing has become so popular during the past decade that there has been established a large number of ski resorts at various locations where mountainous terrain lends itself to this particular sport. These areas are naturally quite remote and are reached only by automobile and/or buses; therefore, in orders to justify a lengthy, time consuming trip, the resort generally includes hotel or motel accommodations, together with eating facilities and related amusements for periods of darkness when the ski runs are not normally in use. The ski runs of these present day resorts extend out-over open terrain and are subject to all changes and conditions of weather and consequently in the event of rain or extremely cold weather their use will be limited. It is therefore another object of my invention to provide a complex for such recreational areas in which there is provided, in addition to other comfort providing facilities, one or more enclosed ski runs that are maintained with artificial snow producing means, together with air conditioning and temperature controlling facilities by which ski runs will be available for use throughout the year and under all conditions of Weather.

For a better understanding of our invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, where in FIGURE 1, the numeral designates a parking area for automobiles and other forms of transportation which is conveniently located with respect to the ski runs. Asso- Patented May 10, 1966 ciated with this area, there is a building or chalet 11 from which there radiates three elongated natural surface enclosing sheds or housings 12, 13 and 14, as here shown. Normally these several sheds or housings will be opened at their lower ends for access from the building 11 where various forms of skiing equipment and other accessories related to this sport will be on sale or for rent. In addition, accommodations may be provided in this building for skiers who come fully equipped forskiing. The complex, as contemplated, may also include other buildings such as centralized rest rooms 15, hotel accommodations 16 and possibly other buildings, such as the building 17 for related sports. For example, the complex may include an ice rink and a heated swimming pool. There may be provided ski holding racks 18, as shown at the near end of the building 17 and also at other points wherever the skiing activities may dictate. As here indicated, the sheds or housings 12, 13 and 14 are of the quonset-hut type, but it will be understood that these sheds may take other forms. Ski resorts, such as is here contemplated, are generally open to the public, without regard to their individual skiing abilities, and. therefore we have provided ski runs of diiferent lengths and character so that experts, those moderately skilled, and those desiring instruction may all be accommodated without interfering with each other. For example, the housing or shed 12 may be extended for a mile or so up a particular incline for expert and advanced skiers, while the shed or housing 13 will be considerably shorter and of a lesser incline, and the shed or housing 14 will be of a length and character to permit of instruction by a professional who will be in attendance.

In FIGURE 2, there is shown in detail a ski run such as might be enclosed within the shed or housing 12. In this instance the housing 12 is shown as having a ski life 20 which may be of conventional design having single or two party chairs 21 for returning the skiers to the top of the ski run after each descent. This housing is of such width that there may be several courses or runs so that a number of participants may use the facility without interfering with each other in a down hill run. To provide a more or less natural environment the encompassed area may also be provided with variously positioned shrubs or trees 22 along the length thereof. Along one sideof the housing 12 there is a raised shoulder or pathway 23 which will preferably be free of snow, and arranged therealong at properly spaced positions we provide artificial snow producing devices 24 that will be supplied with air and Water under pressure respectively through conduits 25 and 26, as will hereinafter appear. Each of the snow producing devices 24 will be electrically operated, and to furnish electric power therefor we show a conduit 27 in which a power circuit is enclosed. These conduits 25, 26 and 27 will extend throughout the length of the pathway 23 within the housing 12 and suitable air and water valves and electric switches (not shown) will be provided so that the several devices 24 may be connected thereto as required. The snow producing devices 24 may be of any available type, and as one example of such a device, see U.S. Patent No. 2,676,471, issued April 27, 1954, to Wayne M. Pierce, Jr., which shows a device and method for producing snow by atomizing a jet of Water with compressed air at a snow maintaining temperature. In this patent conduits extending throughout the length of the skiway will have outlets to which snow producing nozzles may be attached at various points as the devices are moved along the length of the ski run. A feature of our installation, as distinguished from the showing of Pierce, resides in the fact that each of the snow producing devices 24 may be individually operated so that the ski run may be repaired and/or provided with fresh snow at various points along the runway independently of each 3 other. While we have shown the housing 12 as having an artificial snow producing device 24 along one side thereof, it will be understood that snow producing devices of this type may be provided in like manner along an additional pathway 24 extending along the opposite side .of the housing 12. In addition to the chair lift, the housing 12 will also be equipped with suitable air conditioning and temperature maintaining means which will provide a substantially uniform snow maintaining temperature, irrespective of the ambient temperature external to the housing.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of skirun such as might be provided within the housings 13 and 14, for beginners and for instruction. In this arrangement, resort is had to a tow rope 28 supported upon a spaced pedestal 29 by which the skiers may be towed to the upper end of the ski run surface, here designated by the numeral 30. In this figure of the drawings there is shown one of a number of air conditioning units 31, such as are mounted in spaced relation along the length of the run enclosing housing. Like in v the housing 12, this ski run has a walkway 23 opposite the tow rope 28 along which there is mounted in spaced relation a'plurality of artificial snow producing devices 24. As described herein before, these devices 24 are supplied with air and water under pressure and electric power through conduits 25, 26 and 27. While we have shown the air conditioning units 31 as mounted upon ceiling of the ski run enclosing housing, it will be understood that as an alternate we may embed a temperature control means in the form of a circulating brine system such as is employed in connection with skating: rinks and here indicated by dot and dash lines 32.

While the ski run enclosing housings 12, 13 and 14 are shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings as extending in straight lines, it will be understood that they may be turned and dipped to conform with the terrain over which they extend. However, in the preferred arrangement it will be desirable, as shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, to have the ridge of the roof sutficiently high above the surface to give a substantially full line view throughout any straight portion of the ski run. For a further detail, it is contemplated, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, that the housings 12, 13 and 14 will be constructed in arch form, either of wood planking 33 or a metal frame with an outer weatherproof material of heat reflecting character 34 and an interior surface lining of heat insulating material 35.

While we have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose our invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific forms and arrangements, we desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A recreational facility for an outdoor mountainous area, comprising a patron accommodating building open at one side, an inclined radially extending terrain enclosing shed in communication with the interior of said building at its lower end, ski lift equipment for operation within said shed, air conditioning means for maintaining the snow supporting temperature within said shed, and artificial snow producing means disposed along one side of said enclosed area operating to produce a ski run surface of snow within said shed.

2. A year-around ski resort for a mountainous area, comprising a complex having guest accommodating hotel and restaurant facilities, together with related concessions in addition to a ski run terminal building having one or more ski runs terminating therein, characterized by the fact that said ski runs are enclosed throughout their lengths within an elongated heat insulating enclosure, and a plurality of independently controlled and operating artificial snow producing devices spaced along a walkway at a side of said enclosure, whereby the surface and depth of snow on said ski run may be regulated throughout the length of said enclosure.

3. A year-around ski resort for a mountainous area, comprising a complex having guest accommodating hotel and restaurant facilities, together with related concessions in addition to a ski run terminal building having one or more ski runs terminating therein, characterized by the fact that said ski run or runs are enclosed throughout their lengths within an elongated heat insulating enclosure having a plurality of independently operating artificia=l snow producing devices spaced along a walkway extending along one side of said enclosure, whereby a desired ski run surface of snow may be maintained throughout the length of said enclosure, and air conditioning means within said enclosure for maintaining a snow supporting temperature therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1869 Dennison 2723 7/1962 Hall 27256.5

2,676,471 4/1954 Pierce.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR AN OUTDOOR MOUNTAINOUS AREA, COMPRISING A PATRON ACCOMMODATING BUILDING OPEN AT ONE SIDE, AN INCLINED RADIALLY EXTENDING TERRAIN ENCLOSING SHED IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID BUILDING AT ITS LOWER END, SKI LIFT EQUIPMENT FOR OPERATION WITHIN SAID SHED, AIR CONDITIONING MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE SNOW SUPPORTING TEMPERATURE WITHIN SAID SHED, AND ARTIFICIAL SNOW PRODUCING MEANS DISPOSED ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID ENCLOSED AREA OPERATING TO PRODUCE A SKI RUN SURFACE OF SNOW WITHIN SAID SHED. 